Lock out system for party-line telephones.



J. W. BOWLEY.

LOCK-OUT SYSTEM FOR PARTY LINE TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION men on. 9. 1914.

1,204,399. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I Elmanwtox J. W. BOWLEY.

'LOCK-OUT SYSTEM FOR PARTY LINE TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 9, 19m.

152043399. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

3 $HEETSSHEET 2.

avmrzvxtoz Jose nil William B0 WZEy,

J W. BOWLEY.

LOCK-OUT SYSTEM FOR PARTY UNE TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1914.

1,294,39 Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 anuzwboz W as Jaw 22h WEZZamBoWZe attain;

ilhll'lEli STATE PATENT @FFEQE.

JOSEPH WILLIAM BOWLEY, 0F SIMPSON, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

LOCK OUT SYSTEM F01?! PARTY-LINE TELEPHONES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH WILLIAM BowLnY, asubject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Simpsomin the Provinceof Saskatchewan and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Lock Out Systems for Party-Line Telephones, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in look out systems for partyline telephones and has particular application to manually controlledlock out systems for rural telephone lines.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide alock out system for party line telephones whereby the calling subscriberafter obtaining communication with the called subscriber may lock outthe remaining telephone sets on the line so that it will be impossiblefor the remaining subscribers to listen in and whereby any one of theremaining subscribers upon removing his or her receiver from the hookwill be automatically advised, through the medium of a signal, that theline is busy.

It is also my purpose to provide a system of the class described wherebythe exchange operator will be advised when the line is busy and wherebyany one of the subscribers may signal the exchange operator as when itis desired to talk over long-distance.

"With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forthin and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a threeparty line telephone system equi ped with a lock out constructed inaccordance with the present invention, two of the telephone sets beingshown as interconnected for talking communication, while the third setis locked out. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the exchange stationshowing the circuit connections between such station and a subscriberstelephone set. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the receivercontrolled contacts. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the re ceivercontrolled switch. Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of a relay. Fig. 6is a like view of a polarized bell to perform the functions of a relayand bell. Fig. 7 is a similar view of a relay adapted to be connected inseries with an ordinary bell.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14., ieie.

Application filed October 9, 1914. Serial No. 865,904.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates the line wires,while 2, 3 and 4: ndlcate sets of telephone instruments havmg thecircuit wires 5 and 6 thereof terminally connected with binding posts 7and 8 respectively, which latter are, in turn, connected in multiplewith the lines wires 1 by way of conductors 9.

Associated with each set of telephone instruments connected with theline wires is a low resistance relay 1O controlling a break in thecircuit wire 5 of the telephone set. In the present instance, this relaycomprises a pair of electromagnets 11 having the lower ends of the coresthereof mounted upon a base 12, and an armature 13 pivoted at one end asat 14; and disposed within the influence of the poles of the magnets 11.The pivoted end of the armature 14; is connected with one terminal ofthe break in the circuit wire 5, while the remaining end of the armatureis designed to engage a contact 15 connected to the other terminal ofthe break in the circuit wire 5-, the armature being held normally inengagement with the contact 15 through the medium of a spring 16.

17 designates second relay which, in the present instance, is in theform of a combined relay and polarized bell ringer and comprises a pairof electromagnets 18 having the lower ends thereof provided with poles19 and the upper extremities with poles 20. Disposed centrally of themagnets 18 is an arm 21 having the lower end thereof connected with anarmature 22 disposed within the influence of the poles 19 and equippedwith a permanent magnet 23 whereby the ends of the armature arepermanent magnetic poles. The upper end of the arm 21 is formed toprovide a bell tapper 24: disposed between bells 25 and adapted tostrike the latter as the arm is rocked under the action of the armature22 and the magnets 18. Disposed within the influence of the poles 20 ofthe electromagnets 18 is an armature 26 normally held out of engagementwith the poles by means of a spring 27. If desired, a relay similar tothat shown in Fig. 7 may be employed and connected in series with thepolarized bell ringer. In this event, the ordinary bell ringer isemployed and the additional relay polarized and formed of a permanentmagnet 28 substantially U-shaped, and coils 29, 29 surrounding the limbsof the core and having the upper ends thereof formed to provide poles 3Ocontrolling an armature 31. Also associated with each telephone set is athird polarized relay 32 comprising a substantially U-shaped permanentlymagnetized core 33 and coils 34 surrounding the limbs of the core andhaving the upper ends thereof formed to provide poles 35 controlling anarmature 36.

37 designates a set of spring contact fingers comprising fingers 38,39,. and 41. These fingers are secured together and insulated from oneanother by means of blocks of insulation 42 interposed between thefingers adjacent to one end thereof. The remaining end of the finger 38is curved upon itself as at 43, while the adjacent extremity of thefinger 39 lies within the'curved portion of the finger 38 and normallyengages the same. The free terminals of the fingers 40 and 41 are formedwith contact studs 44 and the stud on tie finger 41 is adapted to engagethe adjacent part of the finger 40, while the stud on the finger 40 isdesigned to contact with the adjacent part of the finger 39. The outerends of these fingers are under the control of a set screw 45 carried byan arm 46 secured to the arm of the receiver hook. When the receiver isremoved from the hook, the spring elevates the hook rm and in so doingmoves the arm 46 and set screw 45 and in the movement of the set screw45 the latter engages the adjacent part of the finger 41 with the effectto move the stud on the finger 41 into engagement with the finger 40 andthe stud on the last-mentioned finger into engagement with the finger39. Immediately preceding the receiver hook arm reaching the limit ofits movement, succeeding the removal of the receiver, the outer end ofthe finger 39 is disengaged from the curved end 43 of the finger 38.

47 designates a second set of contact fingers identical in constructionto the set of fingers 37 and disposed adjacent to the finger 41 of theset 47 is a rod 48 axially alining with'a-nd connected to one end of thearmature shaft of a magneto generator 49,

7 such generator being ofthat type having a longitudinally movablearmature shaft equipped with collector rings 50 to take off thealternating current and a commutator 51 to take the direct current fromthe gen erator. The remaining end of the armature shaft of the generatoris connected through suitable gearing with an operating handle 52whereby the shaft may be rotated togenerate current. Leading from thecollector rings 50 are conductors 53 designed to convey the alternatingcurrent from the magneto generator, while leading from the commutator 51are conductors 54 adapted to convey the direct current from the magnetogenerator. The terminals of the conductors 53 and 54 are connected,respectively, with contact fingers 55, 55 and 56, 56,and the fingers 55are insulated from each other and from the fingers56, while the fingers56 are also insulated from each other. The fingers 55 alternate with thefingers 56 and the confronting faces of the companion fingers 55, 56 atthe outer ends thereof are formed with contacts 57 and disposed betweenthe contests 57 are blades 58, 58 rigidly secured together and insulatedfrom each "other through the medium ofa block of insulation 59. A spring60 holds the blades 58, 58 normally in engagement with the contacts 57on the outer ends of the fingers 55, while an arm 61 is secured to thereceiver arm of the particular telephone set and carries a set 3 screw62 adapted to engage the blades 58, 58 when the receiver is removed fromthe hook to shift the blades 58, 58 into engagement with the contacts 57on the outer ends of the contacts 56 as the receiver arm moves upwardlyunder the action of its spring, thus breaking the connection between theblades 58, 58' and the fingers 55 and establishing a connectionbetween'the fingers 56 and the blades 58, 58. In this operation thealters V nating current conductors 53 are disconnected from the blades58, 58- and the direct current conductors connected thereto. Leadingfrom the blade 58 is a conductor 63 extending through the coils 34 ofthe relay 32 and tapped onto the circuit wire 5 adjacent to the contact15 as at 64, while leading from the binding post 7 is a conductor 65extending through the coils of the relay 17 and terminally connected tothe binding post 8. From the last-mentioned binding post leads aconductor 66 having the termi- Associated with each telephone set is an1% electric battery 67 and from one side of the battery 67 leads aconductor 68 connected with the armature 26 of the relay 17. Tapped ontothe. core of one of the coils 18 of the' relay 17 is a conductor '69includ- 11'0 ing in multiple the fingers 41, 41 of the sets 37 and 47.Connected in multiple with the fingers 40, 40'of the sets 37 and 47 is aconductor 70 having the terminal thereof connected with the base 29 ofthe relay 10, while connected in multiple with the fingers 38, 38 of thesets 37, 47 is a conductor 71 having the terminal thereof connected tothe armature 13 at the pivot point thereof and lead ing from the pivotpoint of the armature. 13 is conductor 72 extending through the coils 11of the relay 10 and connected with the other side of the battery 67.Connected in shunt with the coils of the relay 10 is a buzzer 7,3 orother form of signal. 7

Connected to the conductor 63 between the blade 58 and the relay 32 is aconductor 74 having the free terminal thereof tapped onto the conductor69 and leading from the conductor 69 is a conductor 75 having the 1 0terminal thereof connected with the armature 36 of the relay From thecore of the relay 32 leads a conductor 76 terminally connected with thebase 29 of the relay 10.

In practice, assuming that the subscriber at the set 2 wishes to havetalking commu' nication with the subscriber at the set 4;, thesubscriber at 2 gives the usual code ring and the subscriber at 1:removes the receiver from the hook to answer the ring. Ringing currentflows from the calling subscribers generator, over conductor 53,contacts 55, 5S, conductor 63, relay 32, junction 6i, con tact 15,armature 13, junction 1t, conductor 5, binding post 7 wire 9, line 1,wire 9, at all the stations to binding post 7, wire 65, ringer 17,binding post 8, wire 9, line wire 1, binding post 8, at the callingstation, conductor 66, contacts 58, 55, conductor 53, and returns to thegenerator. As the subscriber at 2 removed the receiver from the hook thearms connected with the receiver hook arm actuated the finger 41 of theset 37 into engagement with the finger 10, the finger 10 into engagementwith the finger 39 and the finger 39 out, of engagement with the finger38, the finger 39 disengaging the finger 38 immediately suc ceeding themovement of the finger 10 into engagement with the finger 39,Simultaneously with this operation ofthe fingers of the set 37, theblades 58, 58 were actuated out of engagement with the contact fingers55 and into engagement with the contact fingers 56. The subscriber at 2actuates the handle 5'2 to rotate the armature of the magneto generatorand in this operation of the generator direct current passes out of thegenerator through one of the wires 5-1, the finger 56 connected withsuch wire, the blade 58, wire 63, the coils 3 1 of the relay 32, contact15, armature 13 of relay 10, the wire 5, the particular conductor 9, theline wire 1 connected with such conductor, through the conductors 9 ofall instruments connected with the line wires, the conductors 65 of suchinstruments, the coils of the relays 17, back to the other line wire 1and then back to the other side of the generator by way ofthe remainingconductor 9, a portion of the conductor 65, the conductor 66, blade 58and conductor 54'. As the relays 17 of the telephone sets are energizedone break in the circuit of each local battery 67 is closed, owing tothe energized coils of the relays pulling the armatures 26 intoengagement with the cores. At the calling subscribers station the relay32 is also energized, incident to the direct current traversing thewindings thereof through the conductor 63 and when the coils of therelay 3:2 are energized the armature 36 is actuated into engagement withthe pole faces thereof. After the armature of the generator has beengiven two or three turns the handle 52 is released and the residualmagnetism in the relays 17 of all the telephone sets connected with theline wires holds the armatures 26 in engagement with the pole faces ofsuch relays, thereby maintaining the particular break in each localcircuit closed, while the residual magnetism of the relay at the callingsubscribers station maintains the armature 36 in circuit closingposition. Should any of the remaining subscribers on the line remove hisor her receiver from the hook, the local circuit of the battery 67 willbe completed incident to the Contact fingers l0 and ll of the set 37engaging each other and the finger 39 prerious to the finger 39disengaging the finger 38. When the local circuit is thus completed thecoils 11 of the relay 10 are energized and the buzzer 73 sounded,thereby notifying the subscriber that the line is busy. Current flowsfrom one side of the battery 67, through the conductor 68, the armature26, the cores of the relay 17, the conductor 69, contact fingers ll, 10,39 and 38 the conductors 71 and 72, the winding of the relay 10 and thenback to the other side of the battery 6'7 and as the buzzer 73 isconnected in shunt with the relay 10, current also flows through saidbuzzer to sound the latter. lVhen the coils of the relav 10 areenergized, the armature 13 is actuated to disengage the contact 15,thereby breaking the circuit connections between the particularsubscribers telephone set and the line wires and when the receiver armhas completed its upward movement the finger 39 is disengaged from thefinger 38, thereby breaking the local circuit at this point, but as thefinger 41 remains in engagement with the finger 40 the local circuit isclosed at this point, current flowing from one side of the battery 67,through the conductor 68, armature 26, the core of the particular coil18 of the relay 17, conductor 69, contact fingers 11 and 40, a portionof the conductor 70, the base 29 of the relay 10, the cores of the coils11, armature 13, conductor 72, and the coils 11, back to the battery.Thus, the coils 11 are maintained energized and the armature 13 held incircuit breaking position, while the buzzer 7 3 continues to sound,thereby notifying the particular subscriber that the line is busy andmaintaining the telephone set out of communication with the line.

In the calling and called subscribers telephone sets, the receiver armsreach their limits of upward movement previous to the closing of thelocal circuit at the armature 26, thereby preventing movement of thearmature 13 to circuit breaking position and holding the buzzer silent.Should a subscriber attempt to ring in on the line whilethe latter isbusy,'the armature shaft of the generator moves longitudinally and in sodoing actuates the contact fingers of the set 47 in the manner justdescribed with reference to the set of contact fingers 37, therebyenergizing the coils of the relay 10 and sounding the buzzer 73. Thus,the ringing subscriber is advised as to the condition of the line andcommunication between his telephone set and the line out off.

lVhen the conversation between the subscribers at the sets ofinstruments 2 and 4 is finished, the subscribers hang up theirrespective receivers and as the subscriber at 2 restores his receiver tothe hook, the contacts 39, l0 and 41 are restored to normal position andin the initial movement of such fingers to normal or original position,the local circuit of the battery 67 is momentarily completed, therebyenergizing the relay 10 and sounding the buzzer 73. As the contactfingers reach normal position, however, the local circuit at this pointis broken, but owing to the relay 32 being energized, the local circuitis maintained closed at the armature 36, current flowing from one sideof the battery 67, through the conductor 69, armature 36 and cores ofrelay 32, conductor 76, base 29, the cores of the relay 10, armature 13,conductor 72, through the windings of the relay l0, and back to theother side of the battery. Thus, the buzzer 73 continues to sound and sonotifies the subscriber that the connection between his telephone setand the line is broken and the relays 17 of the other telephone sets onthe line energized. To denergize all the relays 17 on the line and therelay 32 of the particular subscriber, the armature of the magnetogenerator is revolved, thereby sending an alternating current overtheline through the relay 32 of the particular subscriber and all of therelays .17, thus dissipating the residual magnetism of such relays andreleasing the armatures. In this operation of the genera-tor, thealternating current flows from one side of the generator, through one ofthe conductors 53, the particular contact finger 55, the blade 58 inengagement with such finger, conductor 63, the relay 32 ofthe'particular subscriber, through. the circuit wires of the telephoneset out on the line by way of one of the line wires 1, through all ofthe relays 17 on the line by way of the particular conductor 9,conductor 65, back onto the line by way of the remaining conductor 9,'

through the remaining line wire 1, the relay 17 of the particularsubscriber, by way of the remaining conductor 9, the conductor 65, andthen back to the other side of the generator by way of the conductor 66,blade 58 and the remaining conductor 53.

The line wires I extend into a central station and connected in multiplewith the line wires 1 in the exchange station is a jack 77 and a relay78 controlling a local circuit 79 includingva suitable source ofelectrical energy as a battery 80 and a visible signal 81. Connected incircuit with the jack 77 is a drop 82 having one side grounded as at 83,while connected with the conductor 63 is a push button switch 84adapted, when actuated, to break the continuity of the conductor 63 andconnect one side of the magneto generator with the ground by way of aconductor 85. By means of this construction, it will be seen that aslong as the line is busy the signal 81 will be energized, therebynotifying the operator in charge of the central station of the conditionof the telephone system, while by depressing-the button 84 andcontrolling the armature of the generator a subscriber may energize thedrop 82 and so obtain communication with the central operator. 7

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of myinvention by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I donot limit or confine myself to the precise details of constructionherein described and delineated, as modification and variation may bemade within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. In a' lock out system for party line telephones, the combination withthe line wires and sets'of telephone instruments, of

an electroresponsive device for breaking the connection between each setof'instruments and the line wires, a'local circuit including saiddevice, a second electroresponsive device associated with each set ofinstruments and controllinga break in said local circuit, meansassociated with each set of instruments and operable to energize all ofsaid second-named electroresponsive devices,

of each set of instruments succeeding the establishment of talkingcommunication between two sets to close a second break in said localcircuit whereby said first-named electroresponsive devices will beenergized to disconnect the particular set of instruments from the line.

2. In a lock out system for party line telephones, the combination withthe line wires and sets of telephone instruments, of means for breakingthe connection between each set of instruments and the line wires, a

.10-5 1 and means operable from the receiver'hook local circuitincluding said means, means 7 operable from another set of instrumentsfor closing. said local circuit, and a signal in said local circuit inshunt with said means and operable upon the closing of the local circuitto advise the subscriber of the condition of said first means.

3. In a lock out system for party line telephones, the combination withthe line wires and sets of telephone instruments, of means for breakingthe connection between each set of instruments and the hue wires, alocal cuit whereby said first means may be restored to normal position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH WILLIAM BOl/VLEY. Witnesses:

VVILLIAM HERBERT SMAIL, HARRY WILLSMER.

circuit including said means, means operable from another set ofinstruments for closing said local circuit, a signal in said localcircuit in shunt With said means and operable upon the closing of thelocal circuit to advise the subscriber of the condition of said firstmeans, and means operable from another telephone set to break said localcir- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

